Christ’s Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary

9:11Butnow Christhas come15as the high priestof the good thingsto come. He passed throughthe greaterandmore perfecttentnotmade with hands, thatis, notof thiscreation,9:12and he enteredonce for allintothe most holy placenotbythe bloodof goatsandcalvesbutbyhis ownblood, and so he himself secured16eternalredemption.9:13Forifthe bloodof goatsandbullsandthe ashesof a young cowsprinkledon those who are defiledconsecratedthem and providedritualpurity,179:14how muchmorewill the bloodof Christ, whothroughthe eternalSpiritofferedhimselfwithout blemishto God, purifyour18consciencesfromdeadworkstoworshipthe livingGod.

9:15Andsohe isthe mediator19of a newcovenant, so thatthose who are calledmay receivethe eternalinheritancehe has promised,20since he died21tosetthem freefrom the violations committedunderthe firstcovenant.9:16Forwherethere is a will, the deathof the one who made itmustbe proven.229:17Fora willtakes effectonly atdeath, sinceit carries noforcewhilethe one who madeit is alive.9:18So eventhe first covenantwas inauguratedwithblood.239:19ForwhenMoseshad spokeneverycommandto allthe peopleaccording tothe law, he tookthe bloodof calvesandgoatswithwaterandscarletwoolandhyssopand sprinkledboththe bookitself andallthe people,9:20and said, “Thisis the bloodof the covenantthatGodhas commandedyouto keep.”249:21Andboththe tabernacleandallthe utensilsof worshiphelikewisesprinkledwith blood.9:22Indeed according tothe lawalmosteverythingwas purifiedwithblood, andwithoutthe shedding of bloodthere isnoforgiveness.9:23Soit was necessaryfor the sketches25 of the thingsinheavento be purifiedwith these sacrifices,26butthe heavenly thingsthemselvesrequired27 bettersacrificesthanthese.9:24ForChristdidnotentera sanctuarymade with hands– the representation28of the true sanctuary29 – butintoheavenitself, and he appearsnowin God’spresenceforus.9:25Andhe did notenter to offer30himselfagain and again, the way the high priestentersthe sanctuaryyear after yearwithbloodthat is not his own,9:26for thenhewould have hadto sufferagain and againsincethe foundationofthe world. Butnowhe has appearedonce for allatthe consummationof the agestoput awaysinbyhis sacrifice.9:27Andjust aspeople31are appointedto dieonce, andthento face judgment,329:28soalso, afterChristwas offeredoncetobearthe sinsof many,33 to those who eagerly awaithim he will appeara second time, notto bear sin34but tobring salvation.35

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

10:1Forthe lawpossessesa shadowof the good thingsto comebut notthe realityitself, and is therefore completely unable, by the samesacrificesofferedcontinually, year after year, to perfectthose who come to worship.3610:2For otherwisewould theynothave ceasedto be offered, sincethe worshiperswould have been purifiedonce for alland so have37nofurtherconsciousnessof sin?10:3Butinthose sacrifices38there is a reminderof sinsyear after year.10:4Forthe bloodof bullsandgoatscannottake awaysins.3910:5Sowhenhe cameintothe world, he said,

“Sacrificeandofferingyou didnotdesire, buta bodyyou preparedfor me.

10:6 “Whole burnt offeringsandsin-offeringsyou tooknodelight in.

10:7 “ThenI said, ‘Here I am:40 I have come– it is writtenofmeinthe scrollof the book– to doyourwill, O God.’”41

10:8Whenhe saysabove, “Sacrificesandofferingsandwhole burnt offeringsandsin-offeringsyou didnotdesirenordid you take delightin them”42 (whichare offeredaccordingto the law),10:9thenhe says, “HereI am: I have cometo doyourwill.”43 He does awaywith44 the firsttoestablishthe second.10:10Byhis will45we have beenmade holythroughthe offeringof the bodyof JesusChristonce for all.10:11Andeveryprieststandsday after day46servingand offeringthe samesacrificesagain and again– sacrifices thatcannevertake awaysins.10:12Butwhen thispriest47 had offeredonesacrificeforsinsforall time, he sat downatthe right hand48of God,10:13where he is nowwaiting49untilhisenemiesare madea footstoolfor hisfeet.5010:14Forby oneofferinghe has perfectedforall timethose who are made holy.10:15Andthe HolySpiritalsowitnessesto us, foraftersaying,5110:16“Thisis the covenantthatI will establishwiththemafterthosedays, saysthe Lord. I will put52mylawsontheirheartsandI will inscribethemontheirminds,”5310:17thenhe says,54 “Theirsinsandtheirlawlessdeeds I will remembernolonger.”5510:18Nowwherethere is forgivenessof these, there is no longerany offeringforsin.